Device for applying closure bottoms to tubular containers



Aug. 2, 1938. c. L. BAKER DEVICE FOR APPLYING CLOSURE BOTTOMS TO TUBULAR CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 24, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 2, 1938. c. l.. BAKER DEVICE FOR APPLYING CLOSURE BOTTOMS TO TUBULAR CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 24, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 20 2.9 I? aa u 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 52 Fig 7 Off/RL f5 L .BAKE/f.

C. L. BAKER SAS# l Filed Aug. 24, 1937 DEVICE FOR APPLYING CLOSURE BOTTOMS TO TUBULAR CONTAINERS 4Aug. 2, 1938.

Aug. 2, 193s. C, L. BAKER' 2,125,416

DEVICE FOR APPLYING CLOSURE BOTTOMS TO TUBULAR CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 24, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 (H4/afd'. BAKE/ Patented Aug. 2, 1938 l PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR APPLYING CLOSURE BOTTOMS TO TUBULAR CONTAINERS Charles L. Baker, Lancaster, Pa., asslgnor to Jet D. Sheetz, Lancaster, Pa. l

Application August 24, 1937, Serial No. 160,705

I9 Claims.

This invention relates to machines and devices for applying closure bottoms to tubular containers, with reference more particularly to frustoconical bodies made of paper or other iiexible sheet material, and is primarily concerned with the production of paper milk bottles or the like. It constitutes a companion to the invention set -forth in my co-pending application Serial No.

160,703, filed simultaneously herewith, covering a machine for forming tubular sheet material (bottlelbodies, the mechanisms of the twov being intended to be used in conjunction with each other.

One/of the principal objects is to provide an 'l5 improved device or means for applying a bottom piece or section to the end of a tubular container, and particularly to a container of hollow frustoconical form suchy as that in which paper milk bottles now coming into general use are conventionally made.

Another principal object is to provide an improved bottoming, or bottom ailixture, to tubular containers and particularly to or for the said type of paper milk bottles, which are required to Je especially strong, seal-tight and loosen-proof against liquid.

Other objects, in addition to the particular advantages, will appear and the invention will be best understood from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein one practicable embodiment thereof is shown in convenient unitary form.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device, showing the work holding part out of the operating position;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged similar view, partly in section and partly fragmented, showing the work holding part inoperating position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional and fragmentary View of opposing operative parts in position for the beginning of the bottom piece application to a tubular member;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the said parts `4,5 advanced partially in the applicative operation;

(ci. sis-55.1)

' in the positioning illustrated in Fig. 6;

Fig. 11 is an inverted or bottom plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 9, illustrating the mount- 10 ing or support of said elements, one of which is shown detached at the side;

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional fragmentary view of the mounting or supporting member for said'elements, showing one of the same removed but in l5 position for application thereto; and

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of one of the tubular members, enlarged to approximately actual size, illustrating the bottoming or manner in which the bottom piece or section is 20 applied thereto.

In the illustrative embodiment, an arbor I4 (see Fig. 1) has its upper end formed to provide an off-set support bearing I IIa for a vertical working shaft. This .arbor is mounted in or upon a 25 suitable base I5 and is advantageously secured in place by bolting or other fastening to the iioor, as indicated. Mounted in the aforesaid bearing of the arbor is a vertical working shaft I6, adapted to both rotary and slide movement upon 30 its axis.

The rotary movement of said shaft is effected through a pulley I'I, which is rotatably supported (see Fig. 2) upon anv upward extension Il of the arbor bearing and is splined slidably to or on 35 said shaft, in this instance by means of a screwkey I8 in `a portion of the hub thereof engaging in a longitudinal key-way or slot I 9 formed in the upper end of the shaft. This pulley is driven by a belt 20 trained thereover from a suitable driving 40 source, such as the electric motor 2l fixed to the arbor base, the said belt being intermediately passed over guide and tensioning rollers 22 supported by arms 23 on the top of the arbor, which are advantageously adjustable as represented. Thus the working shaft is adapted to be rotated continuously during any slide movement up and down within the support bearing of the arbor, its downward movement being limited by a guard or stop block 24 fixed, as by a set screw, on its end. 60

The slide movement of said shaft is effected through a rack sleeve 25 (see Fig. 2) which is loosely fitted on the shaft and itself iits within the support bearing IllEl of the arbor. This sleeve has a longitudinal key-way or slot 26 in one side, 55

into which a key-pin 21 through the arbor bearing fits to prevent it from rotating, while at the same time allowing it to slide freely up and down. The bottom end of said sleeve rests upon an autr-friction bearing 23 placed against a shoulder llia on the lowerA and in this instance e`nlarged end of tlie shaft and its top end bears A against a block collar 29 which is aiixed to the shaft, so that the sleeve cannot move up and down independently of the shaft. Engaged `with the rack portion 25a of said sleeve is a pinion 30 secured\ upon an axis shaft'l, on the outer end of which/there is provided a handle 32 by which itmay'be turned to actuate the sleeve up and down,\the downward movement in` this instance being imparted by drawing the handle forwardly as represented by the arrow in Fig. 2. Said handle is desirably counterbalanced by a weight 33 so as., to facilitate its movement and return the handle normally to its backward position, at which the sleeve is brought to its upward limit. 'I'hus the shaftis adapted to be moved up and dow-n while being continuously rotated by the drive of the aforenamed pulley, its extremes of up and downmovement being controlled primarily by the handle through said rack and pinion, but also by the aforementioned guard or stopblock 24' and a member, next described, carried on its lower end.

On the lower end of said working shaft, an operating head or block member 34 is xed so as to rotate and be raised and lowered therewith, the-same being secured to the shaft in this instance by means of a lock or setting bolt 35. Said head or block member comprises simply an annular recessed drum, engageable over and around the end of the tubular member or bettle body to be worked upon or bottomed. Inside, or upon the inner side wall thereof, are a plurality of grooved rollers 36 arranged therearound in circumferential series, the said rollers being supported upon horizontal axis pins secured in said wall and adapted to rotate idly by frictional contact with a surface against which the rotating head or block itself brings them within the central space defined by said rollers. Centrally within the space left by said rollers, this head or block carries a'secondary or core block 31 bearing agains't the roller ends and normally projecting beyond its end, but reeessional completely thereinto. This ysecondary or core block is movable upon a guide belt or pin 31a extending upwardly through the back wall of the main block, into a hollow neck or shank portion thereof as shown, and confined by its heading or enlargement 3`|b so as to prevent movement entirely out of the main block, but to permit said core block to move inwardly of the main block. Thus said.

space between the grooved rollers operate in main and the core block walls. A spring 38 applied between said guide bolt or pin of the core block and the lower end of the working shaft I6, within the hollow neck or shank portion of the main block, serves to hold the core' block normally outwardly thereof and yet permit it to move inwardly upon pressure or arrest by coming into contact with an opposing surface. rf'he described core block' in turn similarly carries a small central plunger 39, normally lleld outward thereof by a spring 40 within its body, but adapted to recede into a recess 4|, provided therefor in the lower surface of the` block, when pressed or brought into contact with an opposing surface.

Supported under the aforenam'ed working shaft and operating head carried thereby, is a. holder for the tubular member or bottle body to be worked upon for bottom afXture. This holder comprises an inverted cylinder 42 having its inner wall 42a, or a portion thereof, conformed to t e shape of the tubular member or bottle body o be Worked upon, or fnusto-conical inversely in this instance, so as to receive -the said member snugly thereintowith the latters end resting upon the bottom of the same. Openings 43 may desirably be provided in the bottom of this holding cylinder for the purpose of affording a finger reach to facilitate removal of the member should it become too firmly lodged therein. Said holding cylinder is carried upon a raisingslide-base 44, to which it is fastened as by bolts 45 thro-ugh its bottom flange. This slide-base moves toward and away from the arbor I4 between parallel guides 46 on a platform 41, and a. bracket 48 adjustably supports the Whole upon the arbor I4. Alha'ndle 49 on the cylinder part advantageously provides for moving it back and forth upon its base between the aforementioned guides, while a stop block 55 on the platform provides for arresting its movement in one direction directly under the working shaft and operating head thereabove.

Ertending upwardly centrally through theA holding cylinder is a post having its top end substantially flush with the upper end of said cylinder and its bottom end mounted or secured in the bottom of the same. On the top of said post are a plurality of radially disposed finger members or plates 52 (see Fig. 2) pivoted to swing upward and downward into opposite limit positions. In the downwardly swung position illustrated in Fig. 2, and upon enlarged scale in plan View in Fig. 9, they are spread" outward so as to jointly form a flat bearing or supporting surface against which the operating parts above may work. n the upwardly swung posi- -tion illustrated on enlarged scale lin Fig, 7, and

in plan view in Fig. 10, they are nested inward so as to withdraw said surface and permit a tubular or bottle member to be inserted to or removed from position over the post for the work operation.

Said finger members or plates 52 are uniquely mounted in place upon ball pivots within a retaining head 53, having a threaded shank 53a screwed down into the afcrenamed post 5|. The mounting in said retaining head is performed with said head and members inverted (see Figs. 11 and l2) after which they are together turned over and screwed down upon the post, or the post is screwed up-side down upon the retaining head.

Said retaining head, as best seen in Fig. 12, is provided with an annular series ef deep cavities or borings 54 in its underside, corresponding to the number of finger members to be mounted therein, into which the pivoting balls will snugly fit. At the points of these cavities or borings, radial slots 55 are formed, extending centrally therethrough and all the way through the head, i. e., from one side to the other of the latter. These slots are of a width to receive the nger members. Said members in turn are formed at their inner ends with single holes or borings 5B l Thus the finger members are adapted to swing upon anti-friction ball pivots, giving them an exceedingly easy and free action.

Downward swing movement of the finger members thus mounted in place is limited by the top peripheral edge |a of the post 5| (see Fig. 5), their shape being such that when thus restrained from further downward swing, their upper surfaces will lie in a perfectly fiat and level horizontal plane. Their upward swing on the other hand is limited by their coming together or nearly together in a .nested position. 'In said upwardly swung position, they are retained or restrained from from downward swing by a small disc 58 engaging in notches 59 formed' in said members (see Fig. 7), as they are swung to the upward position. The said disc is carried on the end of a rod 6|) extending downwardly through the threaded portion of the retaining head 53 and through the post 5| beyond the bottom of the cylinder 42. The bottom end of this rod 60 is connected with the short arm of a lever 6 I, which is pivoted asrepresented at 62 to the slide-base 44. A spring 63 engaged on said rod between its connection with said lever and the bottom of the cylinder tends normally to hold the same downward, with the lever 6| upward, or in other words with the disc 58 in the position shown in Fig. 7 where it will engage and hold the finger members when they are swung upward. However, downward pressure upon the lever 6| slides the rod 60 upward to lift said disc 58 to the position shown in Fig. 8, so as to disengage and push the finger members into the downward swing as indicated by the arrows in said view.

In operation, the work holder is drawn out to the position shown in Fig. 1 and a bottle body or tubular member 64 is applied into place as shown. That is, in the present instance, the frusto-conical paper milk'vbottle 64 is applied, small end first, over the upwardly swung nger members 52 and the post 5| into the cylinder4 42, where it rests upon the bottom of said cylinder as represented in Fig. 2. The handle 6| is then pushed down to release the nger members 52 (see Fig. 8) so as to swing down to the position shown in Fig. 2. The bottom piece 65 to be applied to the bottom or larger end of the bottle body is then dropped into place within the upwardly extended end of said body. This bottom piece or section comprises simply a paper cup-shaped member or disc which is flanged in conformity with the sloping sides or wall of the bottle body, as plainly shown in Fig. 2. Thereupon, the work holder is moved to the position shown in Fig. 2, i. e., with the slide-base 44 against the stop 50 and with the bottle body directly under the operating head 34.

With the parts positioned thus for the working the bottle end squarely and firmly against the spreaded finger members 52, against the action of their respective springs 40 and 38 allowing them to recede for the purpose. In other words, the said bottom piece 65 is forced tightly into the bottle end against the flat barrier and supporting surface formed by said finger members, as the operating head is lowered to engagement over said body end, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2.

As said head moves further downward, with its core block 31 obstructed and continually receding thereinto, the grooved rollers 36 around its inner side are brought into contact with the edge of the bottle body and by force of rotated rolling pressure thereon begin to turn or fold said edge inwardly as shown in Fig. 4. Continuing this'action as the rotating head descends, saidrollers cause the upturned fiange of the clamped bottom piece .65 to be followingly turned or folded within the fold of the body end, and with said end folding backward thereinto, between the rollers and the core block which exert a progressive or increasing squeeze upon the same, so as to eiect a complete union of the parts when the rotating head has reached its limit of downward movement as shown in Fig. 5.

In other words," as illustrated upon larger scale in Fig. 13, the bottom member 65 is applied and secured to the bottom of the bottle body by a tightinterfold of its flange with a back or double folding ofthe bottle end by action of the aforesaid rollers pressing them inwardly together against the core block carried bythe head. This union is not only so tight and strong as to secure the bottom piece against possibility of separation or loosening from the bott-1e body, but also provides the bottle body with a solid thick bottom rim or rest rib completely rigidifying and greatly strengthening the whole body. It will be noticed that no glue or other fastening is used in applying the bottom piece. I'hat is, no glue or fastening is used in the joint of said piece and bottle end together. The interfold union between the parts is alone entirely suiicient, so that no glue or other holding agency is required. These said parts are thereby so rmly bound and pressed together that they cannot separate, and nothing short of a complete disintegration of the material itself would loosen or permit the parts to be separated from each other.

After the bottom application, the operating head 34 is moved upward again by backward swing or release of the lever 32. The bottomed bottle is prevented from following it upward, or Withdrawingltherewith from its holder, by the plunger 39 and by the core block 31 releasably pushing' and ejecting it outward from said head under the action of their springs, the action of said plunger alone being ordinarily suiiicient for the purpose. Upon thus releasing the parts and finished member, the work holder is drawn back to the position shown in Fig. 1. The bottomed bottle is then removed by lifting it from place. As the small end or neck thereof is drawn upward over the end of the post 5|, the aforementioned finger members 52 are caused to swing upward by pressure of the body wall thereagainst again to the position shown in Fig. 6, so as to be engaged and held by the disc 58 in order to allow another bottleJoody to be applied for the bottoming-operation. T'he described cycle or function is thereafter repeated for each bottom piece application.

The advantages and novelty of the described device will be appreciated. This device not only provides an improved means for foldingly affixing a bottom piece to a bottle or tubular body, but it also eliminates the necessity of inserting the body into place for the operation thereon by applying it upwardly or bottom first from underneath. Instead, the bottle body is very conveniently applied downwardly o r small end rst from above, which is a much easier and simpler procedure. The finger members movable to spread and nested positions provide a working or bearing and support surface which is withdrawn or retracted to allow a renewal of the work object, or whenI said object is removed, and which is restored or protracted when the fresh work object is inserted into place 'ready for the applicative operation.

This invention is intended to provide more particularly for the bottoming of frusta-conical paper milk bottles of the kind produced on the machine of my aforementioned co-pending application Serial No. 160,703, filed on the same day herewith, and the described device is designed to operate more specifically upon such milk bottles having a closure mouth piece or rimming ring 66 applied to their smaller or neck ends as illustrated in Fig. 2 and as shown in my co-pending application, Serial No. 160,704, filed at the same time as the present application,I directed to means for applying such mouth piece or rim rings thereto. In actual practice of quantitative milkbottle production, the described device may desirably be used `in multiple arrangement upon a revolving table so as to operate successively upon bottle bodies fed thereto automatically. This of course would embrace means "fon mechanical handling of the bottle members and mechanical actuation of the operating parts, including an automatic drive mechanism perhaps in synchronism with some other device or machine. It 'will therefore be understood that such a use and organization of the device is contemplated within the general scope of the invention, which is here illustrated in only a unitary and very simple embodiment form.

Since various other changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts, with different combinations and subcombinations of the'elements comprising the same, Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it will be understood that the appended claims are not intended to limit the invention to the specific construction herein illustrated and described;

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A device for applying a closure to the end of a tubular body, comprising a support, a rotating element on the support movable toward and away from the end of the tubular body held thereon and adapted to affix the closure to said end by press-fold thereinto, and means providing a rigid bearing surface within and transversely across said end`against which said element works in amxing the closure and eliminating the said surface when the tubular body is applied to and removed from its held position.

2. A device for applying a closure piece to the end of a tubular body, comprising a support, a rotating element on the support movable toward and away from the end of the tubular body held thereon and the said element being adapted to aix the closure piece to said end of the body by press-fold thereinto, and means mounted within said body and behind the closure piece movable to provide a rigid transverse surface across the 'body opening against which said element works in aiilxing the closure piece to the body and to withdraw the said surface when the tubular body is applied to and removed from its held position.

thereon, the said support being adapted to aiix the closure piece to said end by rolling the edges of both into a folding joint one within the other, and means mounted within the end of the tubular body in its held position movable to provide a rigid flat-plane surface across the body opening against which the closure piece may bear and said element works in atllxing said piece to the body end, and to withdraw said surface when the tubular body is applied to and removed from its held position.

4. A device for applying a bottom to the end of a tubular body, comprising a support, a rotating element on the support movable toward and away from the end of the tubular body held thereon and adapted to a'lx the bottom to said end by press-fold thereinto one within the other, and means mounted within the end of the tubular body in its held position movable to opposite positions alternatively providing a rigid plane surface transversely thereacross against which the bottom piece may bear during the said elements afxing operation thereon and removing said surface when the tubular body is applied to and removed from its held position.

5. A device for applying a bottom to the end of a tubular body, comprising a support, a holder on said support for the tubular body in work position, a rotating element on the support movable toward and away from the end ofthe tubular body held thereon and adapted to aiix the bottom to said end of the body by press-rolling the edges of both into a folding joint one within the other, and means including a series of arm members mounted Within the holder for the body and movable to provide a substantially Hat-plane surface thereacross behind the bottom piece against which said element may press said piece in its applicative operation and to withdraw and eliminate the said surface when the tubular body-is applied to and removed from its holding position.

6. A device for applying a closure'v piece to the bottom end of a tubular body, comprising a support, a holder on said support for the tubular body applicable top end first, a rotating element on the support movable toward and away from the end of the tubular body in its held position and the said element being adapted to affix the closure to said end by a press-rolling action inwardly upon the edges of both so as to unite them in an interfolded joint one within the other, and means including a series of arm members centrally mounted in radial relation within the body holder providing a rigid at-plane surface thereacross behind the bottom piece against which the same will be pressed while said element is moving in its applicative operation, said means being movable upon swing pivots so as to centrally collapse and withdraw the said surface out of the way when the tubular body is applied to and removed from its held position.

7. A device for applying a closure piece to the bottom or larger end of a frusto-conical tubular body, comprising a support, a holder on said support for the tubular body applied thereto smaller or top end first, a rotating element on the support movable toward and away from said bottom end of the tubular body held thereon, said element being adapted to aiilx the closure piece to said end by rolling the edges of both inwardly into an interfold joint one within the other and said element having a part pressing against the.`

bottom piece to hold it clamped during the axing operation, and means carried by the holder within the bottom end of the body held therein and behind the bottom piece being applied thereto providing a rigid fiat-plane surface across the body openingagainst which said piece is solidly supported during the clamping aflixture operation of said element and withdrawing the said surface when the tubular body isapplied to and removed from its held position, said means comprising a plurality of plate or arm members radially mounted in Wheel-spoke relation on ball pivots around the end of a central member within the holder around which the said tubular body is fitted and the said plate or arm members being adapted to swing up and down upon said pivots into opposite wheel-like spread and collapsibly "nested positions.l

8. In a device for applying a closure to an end of a tubular body, including a support and a rotating block member or operating head movable toward and away from the end of the tubular body and adapted to affix the intended closure to said end of the body held in position therefor, the improvement which consists in a plurality of arm members pivotally supported in radial relation axially of the yposition of the body behind or beneath the level of the closure to be applied to its end, said arms being adapted to swing to opposite laterally spread and axially "nested positions providing a rigid supporting surface for the closure continuously across the interior of the body so as to sustain the closure against pressure during its application to the body and permitting the body to be applied to and withdrawn from the closure applicative position longitudinally over the said arms.

` 9. In a device for applying a closure plate to the bottom or larger end of a frusto-conical tubular body, including a support, means for holding the body in position for the operation on said end, and a, rotating block member or operating head movable toward and away from the end of the body in its held position and adapted to aiiix the intended closure thereto, the improvement which consists in a plurality of arm members pivotally supported in radial relation centrally of the body holding means behind or beneath the level of the closure to be applied to the body end, said arms being adapted to be swung through ninety degree arcs into opposite spread and nested positions, in the first of which they rest upon their supporting axis and provide a rigid nat-plane supporting surface laterally across the body opening so as to sustain the closure against pressure of its application to the body, and in the second of which they collapsedly extend axially from their support and permit the body with its smaller open end to be drawn longitudinally thereover in insert to and removal from the holding position, means being provided to engage and hold the said members in said "nested position until released to assume the "spread position.

CHARLES L. BAKER. 

